Flexible conduit for electrical conductors



Oct. 14, 1930. v

c. E. RUTHERFORD FLEXIBLE CONDUI'I FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUGTORS Filed Oct. 25, 1928 WI u mnnmimmm r hilll ll llll E FM Patented Oct. 14:, 1930 I FUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE cnnntnsbnnornnaronn, or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR To rim "W IRIEJVIOLID(J01\![IPA1 IY, or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION or CONNECT- y wires are threaded and ;concealed.

i IGUT' FLEXIBLE CONDUIT FORELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS Application filed October 25, 1928. Serial No. 314,969.

This invention relates to surface wiring conduits for electrical wires andmore particularly to the type of conduits which have flat or substantially fiat base strips and channel shape-d covers, the base strips being tened-in place of use with the covers attached to the base strips in such manner as to provide an unobstructed raceway in whichPthe reyiously where bends or ofisets have been required to turn corners or pass over moldings, cornices, p1pes or beams, it has been necessary for the installer to bend the conduits to meet the condition, which was not an easy operation and wh ch requ1red special tools to give the stiff channel shaped covers the proper bends without distorting them.

The object of the present invention is to provide a fitting whichconformsin general shape and appearance to and can be readily connected with the common flat base strips and. channel shapedfcovers oi the running sections of the conduits, and which is so flex- 5 ible that'it may be easily and quickly given the necessary bend or bends to fit the turns or ofi sets which are met, by anyone who is installing the conduits, without special tools.

This object is attainedby constructing a a conduit fitting with a fiat or substantially fla't continuous base strip formed of a single piece of metal that can be easily bent to the required degreeand connected with the running sections of the conduit, and with a cap formed of overlapping separable channel shaped scales that transversely have substantially the same shape as that of the covers of the running lengths of the conduit, which scales are capable ofmovement with relation to each other. Any number of these scales can be assembled together depending upon the length of the bend, and they are flexibly held together by the base strip to which they are applied. p I 4 V In order to accomplish this each of the separable scales of the flexible cap may be formed of two united channel shaped sections, one of which sections is offset from or is slightly larger transversely than the ,-,..other so that the oflt'set section of one scale I will fit over the inset section of the adjacent scale. when they are put together, or the scales may be formed of separable channel shaped sections, one of which is larger, trans{ versely, than the other so that the larger will fit over the smaller, these sections hav-' ing lugs or ribs that loosely interlock when assembled. The ends of the scales arecurved outwardly and inwardly so as to form fingers which will fit and clasp the edges of the base strip to which they are applied and by which they are held together. I

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shows a side view, with a few ofthe channelshaped scales cut in section, of a straight length of conduit that embodies this invention. Fig. 2 is a, View of the same curved around a cornice. Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the channel-shaped scales. Fig. 4 is an end view of this scale showing a base strip therein. Fig. 5 is a side view, with parts in section, of a straight length of conduit made up of channel-shaped scales of modified form. Fig. 6 is an end View of the inner member of the modified form of scale. Fig. 7 is a side view of this inner member. Fig. 8 is an end view of the outer member of the modified form; Fig. 9 is a; side view of the outer member. Fig. 10 is a view showing the modified form of conduit passed over a plpe. V

In the views 1 indicates the ceiling, 2 the side wall and 3 the cornice of a room. The ends t and 5 of the running sections of the conduit are fixed adjacent to the cornice, and

between these ends is arranged the flexible channel-shaped scales, each of which preferably has a section 8 of one size, transversely, and an integral section 9 that is substantially the same shape but is slightly smaller trans versely, so that the smaller section of one scale will fit loosely within the larger section of the adjacent scale. The ends'10 of these sections are curved outwardly and inwardly so that they will receive and clasp the edges of the base strip.

Whereas in the form above described each scale is made of two channel-shaped sections which are integral, in the modified form of conduit illustrated'the scales are made'in two separable channel-shaped sections 11 and 12 which transversely are substantially the same shape, but one,"l1, is sufficiently larger than the other, 12, to enable the ion.

mer to be loosely fitted over the latter. The smaller section 12 has outwardly extending ribs 13 along its edges and the larger section 11 has inwardly extendinglugs 14, the lugsengaging the ribs whenthe larger section is fitted over the smaller section, to retain the sections from endw' se separation. These sections have curved inner edges 15 shaped to clasp theedges 01" the flexible or pliable ternally orexternally, or both, sothat it may be curved around a cornice, about pipes, or other projections or irregular surfaces which are encountered, and readily joined to the ends ofthe running lengths of conduit.

channel-shaped metallic scales applied to the base strip, said scales being formed of two sections, one'of which is larger than and is shaped to loosely fit over the other section.

4. A flexible surface wiring conduit for electrical conductors, comprisinga continuous metallic base strip and aplurality of channel-shaped metallic scales applied'to the base strip, each of said scales being formed of a larger section and an integral smaller section whereby the scales may be loosely assembled with relation to each other on the base strip with the smaller section loosely fitted within the larger section of the adjacentv scale. u

5. A flexible surface wiring conduit for electrical conductors, comprising a continuous metallic basestrip, and a plurality of channel-shaped independent metallic scales applied to andheld together by the base strip with the edge of each scale loosely extending within the edge of the adj acent scale.

6. A flexible surface wiring conduit for.

electrical conductors comprising a plurality of overlapping metallic U-shaped sectlons and a continuous metallic base strip engag ing the ends of said sections and loosely retaming them in movable relation w1th each other.

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The scales of'this flexible length of con- 'duit in transverse section are similar to the cross-sectional shape of therunning lengths so that when the conduit is completed the whole will appear harmonious; The base strips may be made 01 indefinite length and cut into lengthsrequired to meet the conditionswhich arise, and the scales are stamped 'to shape in indefinite numbers and the neces sary number appliedto the base strip by the manufacturer. to. complete the conduit. The

' base strips are connected-with the ends of the running lengths of the conduit in the usual The invention claimed is: 1. A flexible surface wiring conduit'for electrical conductors, comprising a continuous'metallic [base strip and a plurality of channel-shaped overlapping metallic scales movably connected together and loosely ap from separation by the plied to and held base'strip. p I, Z 2. A. flexible surface wiring conduit for electrical conductors, comprising a continu ous metallic base strip and a pluralityof channel-shaped overlapping metallic scales n tably c nne t d seth ff d hav n 

